Show:
Biblical & Rabbinic Judaism
Hellenism (read each question CAREFULLY)
Talmud
Timeline
Critical Thinking
100
In Rabbinic times, what replaced our King?
What is God/Talmud/rabbis
100
Name an important change to Jewish living conditions brought about by Hellenism.
What is significant migration to cities from rural areas
100
Name the 2 parts of the Talmud, and who compiled the first of the 2 parts?
What is Mishnah and Gemarrah; Mishnah compiled by Judah HaNasi)
100
Who did what to whom in 586BCE?
What is Babylonians destroyed the 1st Temple of the Israelites
100
What issues did the rise of city life create that didn’t exist when people lived as farmers?
What is population density; near neighbors; new opportunities for trade; competition and thus more conflict)
200
What replaced sacrifices in Rabbinic times?
What is prayer
200
Before Hellenism, how did most Jews earn a living? 2. After Hellenism swept thru the land, what changes occurred in the way Jews made a living?
What is Jews were mostly farmers and herders, but during Hellenistic times, they became tradesmen and businessmen
200
What is in the center of a page of Talmud, and what specific writings do we find to either side of it?
What is Mishnah and/or Gemarrah are in the center of the page; Rashi’s commentaries are toward the binding; Tosafot are towards the outer edge of the page
200
Describe what happened between 132-135CE.
What is Bar Kokhba rebellion against the Romans; Jews utterly defeated
200
Explain what it means when we say that Talmud is a hypertext document.
What is It connects new interpretations to old texts; it references itself and relies on other parts of itself to complete partial statements; it is interactive and constantly requiring new connections and new inputs
300
In Biblical times how did we learn about Jewish law, and where did we learn about law in Rabbinic times?
What is Torah in Biblical times; Talmud in Rabbinic times
300
Before Hellenistic times, Jews mostly bartered. What replaced barter during Hellenistic times?
What is money
300
Besides “Mishnah and Gemarrah” provide 2 other definitions of Talmud?
What is 1. compilation of conversations; 2. hypertext of Torah and commentaries; 3. database of Jewish life; 4. commentary on and re-interpretation of Torah
300
Approximately how long ago did Ezra live?
What is about 2500 years ago
300
Why is Gemarrah concerned about sources of statements/rulings, and contradictions?
What is Sources: The rabbis believed Torah was from God, and therefore anything in Torah has more authority than human-made rulings. Contradictions: If the Talmud was to serve as a document to solve religious and legal questions, it would need to resolve as many contradictions and ambiguities as possible, so we would know how to behave.
400
Besides king and sacrifices and Torah, name the last 2 aspects of Biblical Judaism, and what they were replaced with in Rabbinic times.
What is 1 Temple was replaced with many synagogues; priests were replaced with rabbis)
400
What was the impact of the removal of borders when Alexander created his great empire?
What is increased trade; or reduced warfare between regions)
400
How many orders is the Talmud divided into, and give the Hebrew and English names of one of them.
What is 6 orders. zera’im: seeds/blessings; mo’ed: seasons/holidays; nezikin: damages; nashim: women’s issues; kodashim: sacred/holy things; tohorot: purifications;
400
For how long did the Second Temple exist?
What is about 586(!) years, from 516BCE to 70CE
400
Describe at least 1 political, 1 economic, and 1 social change in Jewish life from 586BCE to 70CE, that contributed to the transition from Biblical to Rabbinic Judaism, and briefly explain the importance of each.
What is (political: destruction of Temple, 70CE, forcing end of sacrifices and priesthood; economic: use of money, which is not dealt with in Torah, and thus required new laws and new institutions; social: exile from the land, causing the creation of widely spread out communities that might easily develop new and conflicting customs.)
500
What 2 people do we believe began the changes to Rabbinic Judaism, and when did they live?
What is Ezra and Nekhemia, and they lived sometime between 520 and 450 BCE
500
Why did some Jews dislike Hellenism, and what civil war did Hellenism ultimately cause?
What is breakdown of Jewish practices and values; the Maccabean civil war
500
What are the 2 most common questions the Gemarrah asks?
What is 1. what is the source; 2. are there any contradictions?
500
How long did it take to compile BT? Give beginning and ending dates, and justify why you chose those dates.
What is (400 years: begin with Mishnah’s completion around 200CE and end around 600CE; 500 years: begin around 100CE with compiling Mishnah, and end around 600CE; 1000 years: begin with Ezra’s tikkunim around 450BCE and end around 600CE
500
How did Talmud democratize Judaism
The Talmud allows the distribution of responsibility, so that any person can study, learn the legal basis of Judaism, and its traditions, and can become a leader and an authority.